I would like to see them create an even smaller world with more detail. By that, I don't mean graphically, I mean detail in interaction. Like opening up the closet and cupboards in Shenmue to see what was inside, or how you had to just ask a whole bunch of people and investigate to feel what was going on.

Both of these are in previous Elder Scrolls games, but I feel like while there may be a good deal granular detail they try to do so much, then none of the details feel designed. So for instance, in Skyrim or Oblivion is you explore everywhere, you mostly find either Time for Exposition text deposits or items that aren't all that memorable. I'm talking more about putting a small trinket in a cupboard no one would usually investigate and make it so it links to some random NPC in a few towns over, where you would only get some meaning if you had followed a couple of different quests or conversations. Bethesda and Obsidian did this to a certain extent with Fallout, because everyone expects that kind of detail from Fallout. Yes, this takes a long time and is hard to do; that's why I recommend they drop epic walks into nothingness for being overwhelmed by the detail in a smaller space. They've certainly got the manpower.

As for actual real investigation, its just a pipe dream, because the minute they do it, there would be reviews about how the game isn't designed well because people don't know what to do and mega blockbusters just won't take that type of risk.

If I had those two things, and design like them, I would be on cloud nine. I do not expect good writing or a good battle system or good dungeon design from this series, as it is more of an RPG simulator and all that stuff can come from players who mod it later, so I'm not that picky.

Though I am kind of upset that the next game probably won't be in a snowy environment since snowy Santa places are my favorite in games.

I think I can relate, and the "puzzles" in Skyrim are beyond embarassing. I mean, look at Zelda, a game designed so that children could enjoy it too. That has lots of tough puzzles that put to shame Skyrim's best (half-hearted) attempts. Skyrim is awfully dumbed down in some regards.

I think Hammerfell is pretty likely, or perhaps the cats and woodelves of Valenwood.

Anyway, what I want of the next Elder Scrolls game is to know nothing about it before I play it. Kinda ruined Skyrim for me. I went blind into Dragonborn and it was so much better for it. I trust Bethesda that the game is going to be good so ideally I won't even read any reviews beforehand.

Summerset Isles, Nazi Elves, Magic Jetskis for inter-island travel. Thalmor have conquered Tamriel, now seek to conquer Oblivion, open gates but tear up space time in their hubris and portals are opened to other realms of Tamriel like Elsewhere, so we can finally get some hot desert action in.

Better writing and voice acting, a much bigger range of and more interesting spells, more character/story focused, more interesting/unique dungeons and loot, less fighting but a greater variety of enemies, multiple approaches to most quests (preferably some none-violent) and definitely not a return to the generic high fantasy and level scaling of Oblivion.

If all that requires a smaller game world then that's fine too, quality over quantity and all that.

A UI that prioritises functionality over aesthetics would also be nice. Yes yes, "mods will fix it", except they won't on consoles. And something so important really shouldn't need fixing in the first place.

Personally Bethesda need to return to some core values as they seem to have lost their way somewhat since Morrowind in wanting to be all things to all men. This has had the impact of actually making the series more 'game-y' than it originally was and for me, detracts from the experience.

First off, level scaling. GTFO. For a balanced world there needs to be things that are weak and things that are strong. It gives a sense of progression, of a character evolving and for attributes and exploration to actually have a point. Yes, there may well be some areas you can't access/will get your ass handed to you because your character simply cannot cope with them at this point in time. Go out, explore the world, develop your skills and abilities, not everything need be given in one fell swoop.

Be a 'normal person' who through circumstances becomes a hero. Or not. the choice is yours. Making the PC a unique but generic superman with special abilities is naked powergaming. Make the PC live by the same consistent rules of the universe or don't bother. Contrast and compare Morrowind with Oblivion/Skyrim. In Morrowind, you're a blank slate and everything develops as a matter of player agency. In Oblivion/Skyrim, X must happen because Y where Y is the PC being 'gifted' and 'special'. It's a cheap mechanic to build up the PC yet actually doesn't add to the plot any more than simply being a victim of circumstance.

Be more diverse. TES has not evolved beyond the same tropes from Daggerfall and whilst repetition is fine in moderation, ad nauseum it just demonstrates a lack of creativity and a willingness to be able to think outside of the box. TES also seems to have lost it's sense of humour somewhere along the way, becoming more obsessed with being a po-faced high fantasy saga.

Stranded87 wrote:
Better writing and voice acting, a much bigger range of and more interesting spells, more character/story focused, more interesting/unique dungeons and loot, less fighting but a greater variety of enemies, multiple approaches to most quests (preferably some none-violent) and definitely not a return to the generic high fantasy and level scaling of Oblivion.

If all that requires a smaller game world then that's fine too, quality over quantity and all that.

ubergine wrote:
Summerset Isles, Nazi Elves, Magic Jetskis for inter-island travel. Thalmor have conquered Tamriel, now seek to conquer Oblivion, open gates but tear up space time in their hubris and portals are opened to other realms of Tamriel like Elsewhere, so we can finally get some hot desert action in.

Summerset Isles is the most likely, as you can often tell the direction the next game will go in from side quests and NPC chatting. Cyrodiil was mentioned a lot in Morrowind just as Skyrim was mentioned in Oblivion, and the Summerset Isles are mentioned a few times not only in vanilla Skyrim but the Dragonborn DLC as well.

Hammerfell has also kind of been done in Redguard even if it was set on an island off the mainland... but the same could be said for Morrowind which only actually showed us a very small part of that region.

bitch_tits_zero_nine wrote:
Dunno if a middle eastern environment would appeal. Be a bit dull, nothing but sand imo.

As opposed to the "just snow" of Skyrim? Personally I'd love a desert-themed game.

Regarding multiplayer, mentioned above: no. Not for me, thank you. Not even as an option, which could potentially take some of the budget and creativity away from the main game.

Oblivion Gates. Hated them. Found them to be dark and depressing. Nothing like this again, please. Even the dragons of Skyrim have started to get on my nerves when they randomly turn up as I am trying to either do something important, complex, or just trying to relax.

Less fighting, deeper and more involved characters? Yes please! Less-generic story lines, fewer repeated dungeons. More uniqueness, more depth and creativity. More immersion. More unique dialogue.